Combined package and toy



.9.1-924.- 1 07,662 Sept L. R. CARLEY ET AL ,5

COMB INED PACKAGE AND TOY Filed April 22, 1923 2 ShIUJ-ShQOt .i-h .1.

47 uw'slvrofls .Z eonaJ-d 77. Carley George JiJfay ATTORNEYS Sept. 9 1924.

L. R. CARLEY ET AL COMBINED PACKAGE AND TO! Filed April 22, 1922 2 Stats-Shut 2 MH/ENTOR5 .Zonardli. Carley Gear-ye H-Jfqy BY E A TTORNEYS Patented Sept. 9, 1924.

omreo srarss PATENT ori ice;

LEONARD R. cen er, or WATER-TOVIN, AND encnen ii. KAY, orrnosrncr, j

connncrrour.

i COMBINED PACKAGE AND TOY.

Application filed April 22,1922. Serial No. 555,950.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LEONARD R. Giannini, a subject of His Majesty the King of Great Britain, and aresident of lVatertown, in

the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, and GEORGE H. KAY, a citizen of .theUnited States, and a resident of Prospoet, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have made and invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Packages and Toys, of which the following is a specification. I

Our invention relates to a container or package and has for its object to provide an article of this type which may be easily and readily converted into a toy vehicle after it has fulfilled its service as a container and thus provide. a useful purpose for cans, pasteboard boxes and other forms of containers which are ordinarily thrown away. a I

A further object is to provide a container suitably decorated or lithographed' so as to represent a vehicle, and to supply in connection with the same suitable wheels and axles and wire axle supports, the latterbeingso designed'and arranged as to be easily attached or aflixed to the body of the container and to project therebeneath and form a rigid and efficient support for the wheels and axles and thus provide a simple, inexpensive and very practical toy, several of whiclrmay be joined togetherso as to form a train.

A further object is to accomplish the aforementioned ends in a simple manner so as not to materially increase the cost of the container and thus provide a very attractive and desirable container for foodstuffs or other material and thus promote and increasethe sale of the same.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, our inventionconsists in the improved container or packageillustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter de-' scribed and claimed, and in such variations and modifications'thereof as will be obvious to thoseYskilled in the art to which our invention relates, it being understood that changes may bemade within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit thereof.

The preferred embodiment ofour invenings, wherein tion is disclosed in the accompanying draw- Figure 1 is a view in" sideelevation of our novel container or package and toy,

and showing the brackets and wheels and axles in place so. as to forrna toy vehicle and with the cover of the container removed; g

Figure 2 is a. bottom plan view of the foregoing;

Figure 3 is a fragmental viewin section taken on. the line of Figure 2;

Figure t is a bottom plan view-0f a package and toy having a somewhat modified form of bracket or'axle support,

Figure 5is aview in side section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure at;

what further modified form of bracket, each bracket being adapted to end ofthe axle; I j t Figure .7 is a view in side section taken on the line 7+7 of Figure 6' Figuresr8, 9, 10, 11,12, are views in bottom plan andv in side section of other modifications of our. invention, as will be more clearly brought out in the subsequentdescription.

Referring specifically to the several views, wherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout, the body 20 of the container or package is pro vided with a depending lower flange 21 extending slightly below the bottom wall 22 of the container. The container or package as shown in Figure 1 may bev provided with any offthe ordinary types of lids or* covers 23, and the shape or configuration of the container may also be varied, according to the type or kind of article which the package is to house and contain. The'walls are preferablydecorated.or lithographed, as at 24;, so as to represent a. vehicle of some standard type, the container in Figurel being intended to represent a gondola axles, and in order to provide means where-.

by these brackets may be easily and securely attached to and project below the container after it has fulfilled its missionas suoh, we

support only one.

is; 14 and 15 I Figure 6 .is-a bottom planview of a someprovide the depending flange 21 with spaced openings, indentations or recesses 25, these being arranged in pairs with a pair adjacent each end of each side flange. The openings or indentations in each of the side flanges are in transverse alignment and are adapted to receive the outstanding loops 26 and outstanding ends 27 of the axle-supporting brackets A. The brackets in addition to being provided with. outstanding loops 26 and ends 27, contain the downwardly extending arms 28 which are joined at their lower extremities by the loop 29 which is adapted to rotatably receive the wheelsupporting axles 30 therein. The upper extremity of one of the legs 28 terminates in the outstanding ends 27 and the remote legs are offset at their upper extremities and bent so as to. form the outstanding loops 26. From each loop 26 the wire of which the bracket is formed is curved at right angles to the plane of the legs 28 and curved, as at 31, so as to lie against the bottom wall 22 of the container. The wire is then projectedforwardly to form the arms 32 which project through an opening 33 in the depending flange at the front of thecontainer and thus form a combination eye and hook coupling member 34.

Two brackets are joined together to support the two ends of the wheel bearing axle. "With the brackets so formed, the resiliency of the wire tends to hold the projecting loops and ends 26427 in the oaenings or recesses in the side flanges and t is in connection with the bearing of the arms 32 and loop portion 31 against the bottom of the container forms a rigid connection for the brackets with the container and accordingly holds the legs 28 firmly in a depending position and thus properly mount and support the wheels of the vehicle. From the foregoing it will be apparent that'the container may be of any ordinary type, provided only that it has a depending .flange and that the same be provided with suitable openings, indentations or recesses, as previously de-- scribed. This combined container andtoy may accordingly be used for the housing of a liquid or foodstuffs or any other de sired material.

lVe have found that the wire supporting brackets may be made in several other ways and have illustrated a very simple type in Figures 4 and 5, whereinthe depending flange 35. of the. sanitary package 36 is provided with a single opening, indentation or recess 37 for each bracket, the bracket in turn being formed with the depending legs 3839 joined at their lower extremity by the loop. 40 which is adapted to rotatably receive the axle therein, and the upper extremity of the one leg- 38 merely rests within the corner or notch defined by the meeting of the side and end flanges of the container.

The upper extremity of the leg 39 is provided with a laterally extending loop or projection 41, which is snapped into the opening or: recess 37 and engages the side walls of the same. The wire which passes from the loop 41 extends across the bottom wall of the container as at 42 and is preferably provided with a forwardly projecting loop which extends through a suitable opening 44 in the front flange of the container and forms a combination hook and eye 43 whereby several of the toy vehicles may be attached or joined together.

flange and thus is held in rigid positionthereby. This style of bracket is formed with the depending legs 45 and 46, joinedat their lower extremities by the loop or coil 47, and which latter is adapted to rotatably support one end of the axle. The depending side flange of the container 48 is provided with a pair of spaced openings, indentae tions or recesses 50 and 51 for each bracket, and into the openings or recesses 51 is adapted to extend the ofl'setend 5520f the leg 46. The offset end of the leg 46 after passing through the opening 51, projects forwardly as at 53 so as to thus engage both the front and rear sides of the flange 48 and remains in such position due to the resilient tendency of the legs 45 and 46 to spread apart.

The upper extremity ofxthe leg 45 is provided with the laterally extending oflset loop 54which projects through the opening 50.; The wire after passing out from the loop 54 extends along the outer side of the flange 48 for a short distance and is then provided with a depending loop 5.5 Whichis adapted to receive the side flange, 48 therein. The wire after passing from the inner portion of the loop 55 is then bent forwardly so as to project along the inner surface of the side flange.

In attaching the braoketas thus formed to the container, the offset loo-p 54 is first introduced withinthe opening or recess 50, the entire bracket being tilted so as to bring the loop 55 directly above the flange 48. The bracket is then turned downwardly so that the loop 55 embraces the two sides of the flange 48 and the leg 46 is then sprung outwardly so as to pass down the outer. side of the flange 48 and thus bring the offset end 52 into alignment with the opening or recess 51, causing it to spring and snap therein, and thus cause the forwardly protruding end 53 to engage the inner wall of the flange 48 and rigidly look the bracket The combined package and toy illustrated in Figures 8 and 911s very similar to the construction shown in Flgures 1 and 2,'w1th the exception, however, that the downward-' ly projecting legs 56 are joined attheir lower extremities by a loop 57 instead'of a coil, and the two side brackets are joined by a curved member 58 which extends across the bottom wall of the container but does not project forwardly through the front flange to form a hook and eye, as this function is performed by separate members, as will hereinafter appear. The front and rear depending" flanges, as illustrated in Figure 9, are provided with the openings, indentations or recesses 59 and into which is sprung the coupling member 60 which contains or is formed with a loop or eye 61 and a depending hook portion 62 and is held in place by the offset ends 63. Thus after the original contents of the package have been used or removed, the brackets are mounted in place and the coupling members also snapped into the openings in the front and rear flanges. The wheels and axles are then mounted between and supported by the brackets (not shown) and the container is then adapted to act as an attractive toy.

The further modified form of bracket i1- lustrated in Figure 10 has the depending legs 63 connected by a coil 64 and the two corresponding legs of adjacent brackets se-. cured together by the transverse or cross strut 65, the latter being bent'into the form of a W so as to provide a high degree of resiliency, tending to spring the loops 66 and offset ends 67 ofthe legs into the openings, indentations or recesses with which the flange of the container is provided. 7

In this particular form of package and toy we have shown a coupling eye 68 which is adapted to snap or spring'into a suitable opening 69 in the front flange, and a coupling hook 7 O at the opposite end of the vehicle which is adapted to snap or spring into an opening 71 in the rear depending flange, such modifications and changes coming clearly within the scope 'of our invention.

In some instances we have found it ad visable to provide a lug extending from the side wall of the container as illustrated in Figures 12 and 13, there being a lug 72 adjacent each end of the side walls of the package. The lugs 72 are spaced slightly above the lower edge 7 3 of the depending flange and receive the coiled ends 74 of the brackets t-herearound. Each bracket is provided with a loop 75 which extends down from the coiled end 7 4 and passes around so "pairs and may be more as to engage both sides of the depending flange i7 6 of the container. From the loop 75the wire of which the bracket is formed extends downwardly so as to form the leg 77, the axle supporting loop 7 8, and the second leg 79. The upper extremity of the second-mentioned leg 7 9 is offset and projects through the opening, indentation or recess in the flange and thus locks the bracket in position. The axles and wheels are not shown in this type "but are adapted 'tobe' supported in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 2. 1

ive have shown a further modification of thisparticular type in Figures 14 and 15, wherein the brackets are formed as outlined in connection with Figures 12 and 13 but in addition are provided with the cross strutor connecting member 81, which rests against and'contacts with the'bottom wall. of the container and thus securely supports'the brackets in position. In thislatterntype the brackets are thus arranged in easily handled and held in place.

lVhile we have described the brackets as being formed of vwire, it will be readily appreciated that we do not wish to limit ourselves to the use of this'material, as it will be readily apparent that the brackets could be made ofthin strip material, al-

though we have found that wire forms a very suitable axle-supporting bracket, and,

further, may be economically made on wlre 10o forming machines and due to its simple construction and simple method of attachment materially to the cost of the same.

Having thus described and explained our brackets adapted to engage the said flange and the side walls of said openings or recesses and be resiliently held therein, said brackets projecting beneath the said receptacle and forming axle supports, and wheels and axles rotatably mounted by said axle supports.

to the body of the container does not add I 2. A combined toy and package comprising a receptacle having a depending flange with openings ,or recesses therein, wire brackets adapted to engage the said flange and the side walls of said openings or recesses and be resiliently held therein, said bracketsprojecting beneath the said receptacle and forming axle supports, wheels and axles'rotatably mounted by said axle sup-' ports, and coupling members carried by said receptacle.

3. An article of the class described comprising a receptacle or car-body having a flange projecting below the bottom wall thereof and providing with openings or recesses therein, wire brackets extending across the bottom wall of said receptacle and resiliently engaging the said openings or recesses, and wheels and axles rotatably mounted by said brackets.

4. An article of the character described comprising a body portion having the side flanges projecting beneath the bottom wall thereof, said flanges provided with openings or recesses therein, wire brackets extending across the said bottom wall and engaging the said openings or recesses, said brackets including downwardly extending members, and wheels and axles rotatably supported by said downwardly extending members.

5. An article of the character described comprising a body portion having the side flanges projecting beneath the bottom wall thereof, saidfianges provided with openings or recesses therein, wire brackets extending across the said bottom wall and engaging the said openings or recesses, said brackets including downwardly extending members, andwheels and axles rotatably supported by said downwardly extending. members, the said wire brackets provided New Haven and State of Connecticut, this 18th day of April, A. D. 1922.

LEONARD R. CARLEY. lVitn esses RUTH L. SEeEARs, LUCY Bree. Signed at Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, this 18th day of April, A. D. 1922.

GEORGE E. KAY. Witnesses:

LUCY Bees, RUTH L. SEoEARs. 

